Bumpkin Island

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Map of Bumpkin Island, provided by the National Park Service BumpkinIsland.png
Map of Bumpkin Island, provided by the National Park Service
The island, seen from the sand spit, which connects it to Hull 2012 June 10 Bumpkin Island From Sand Spit.jpg
The island, seen from the sand spit, which connects it to Hull

Bumpkin Island, also known as Round Island, Bomkin Island, Bumkin Island, or Ward's Island, is an island in the Hingham Bay area of the Boston Harbor. In 1902, Albert Burrage, a Boston philanthropist, had a summer hospital opened on the island for children with physical disabilities. [1] During World War I the island was used by the U.S. Navy. Starting around 1940, the island was used as a facility for polio patients. However, the hospital closed during World War II and burned down in 1945. [2] Since 1996, it is part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. The island has an area of 30 acres (120,000 m2), plus an intertidal zone of a further 31 acres (130,000 m2). It is composed of a central drumlin with an elevation of 70 feet (21 m) above sea level, surrounded by a rock-strewn shoreline. A sand spit, exposed at low tide, connects the eastern end of the island to Sunset Point in Hull. [3]

On weekends and summer weekdays, Bumpkin Island is accessible by a shuttle boat to and from Georges Island, which connects from there with ferries to Boston and Quincy. [4]

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Grape Island (Massachusetts)

Grape Island is an island in the Hingham Bay area of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. The island is part of the territory of the town of Weymouth, Massachusetts. The island has a permanent size of 54 acres (220,000 m2), plus an intertidal zone of a further 46 acres (190,000 m2), and is composed of two drumlins, reaching an elevation of 70 feet (21 m) above sea level, and connected by a marshy lowland. Tidal sand spits extend from the west end towards Weymouth Neck in Webb Memorial State Park and from the east end towards Slate Island.

Langlee Island

Langlee Island or Langley Island is an island in the Hingham Bay area of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. The island has a permanent size of 4 acres (16,000 m2), plus an intertidal zone of a further 3 acres (12,000 m2), and is composed of a massing of Roxbury puddingstone which rises to a height of 40 feet (12 m) above sea level. This results in steep cliffs on the northern shore, while there are several small sandy beaches and a tidal mudflat on the east side. The center of the island contains glacial till that supports tree and shrub cover. As a result of previous planting, the island hosts large examples of oak, maple, juniper, and birch trees, while self-seeded huckleberry and viburnum mix with common greenbriar, dewberry, sumac, and poison ivy.

Raccoon Island (Massachusetts)

Raccoon Island is an island in the Hingham Bay area of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, situated just offshore of Hough's Neck in the city of Quincy. The island has a permanent size of just under 4 acres (16,000 m2), and is composed of bedrock outcroppings which reach an elevation of 30 feet (9.1 m) above sea level. The island is characterized by gravel beaches and rocky slopes. While it is possible to walk to the island at low tide, public access is discouraged.

Button Island (Massachusetts)

Button Island is a small island in the Hingham Bay area of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. It is part of the Town of Hingham. The island has a permanent size of under 1-acre (4,000 m2), plus an intertidal zone of a further 116 acres (0.47 km2). It is composed of a massing of glacial till which rises to a height of 10 feet (3.0 m) above sea level. The island is managed by the town of Hingham, and access is by private boat only.

References

  1. "BEGINS WORK. Burrage Hospital on Bumkin Island". Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922). July 15, 1902. p. 7.
  2. "Island Facts: Bumpkin Island". National Park Service. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  3. "Bumpkin Island Factsheet". Boston Harbor Islands Partnership. Archived from the original on June 27, 2006. Retrieved August 9, 2006.
  4. "Boston Harbor Islands Ferry Schedule" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved July 29, 2006. (Camping is also available.)

Coordinates: 42°16′52.00″N70°53′59.20″W / 42.2811111°N 70.8997778°W / 42.2811111; -70.8997778